Diaphragm valve



June 7, 1960 A. H. P. KlLcolN 2,939,676

DIAPHRAGM VALVE Filed April 4, 1957 Ffq /0 DIAPHRAGM VALVE Kilcoin, 31 Bramerton St., Chelsea SW. ,j

London, England Filed Apr. 4, 1957, ser. No. 650,194

Y rclaim. 31.251-331) Arthur H. P.

'Ilhis'invention relates to improvements in diaphragm valves. One of the' prime problems to be dealt with in diaphragmvalves'is the transmission of axial pressure to the ilexible diaphragm without subjecting the diaphragm to torsional stresses. Conventional diaphragm construction comprises `a ilexible diaphragm iixedly mounted over a valve seat; The diaphragm is actuated to sealing- Patented June 7, 1960 ice* vFigure 3 is a Atransversesectional view taken through plane -.of Figure-.2.' t

Figure 4 is lan `enlarged yviewof a portion of -Figure 2 showing more-clearly details of the means for'actuating the diaphragm, with' the diaphragm in closed position.

Referring fnow to the drawings, the improved valve l construction is seen to comprise a housing having an ly contact the seat by..an axia1ly reciprocating spindle which in turn is operated by a handwheel screw-threadedly connected to the spindle.v Rotation of the spindle means permit axial `spindlemovemeut while locking the l spindle against notary motion.

Due to the axial motionof the spindle, a multiplicity 'of parts are requiredto produce the desired eiect and t-he'overall" height of the valve bonnet is unduly increased. In the instant invention these diculties are eliminated by the provision of a spindle* which does not move axially upon rotation, but instead is threadedly connected to a washer which drives the diaphragm to its sealing position. Various 'advantages result Ifrom this novel combination as will be described more fully below.

Consequently the primary object of this invention is the provision of a diaphragm valve which is reciprocated axially relative .to a valve seat without torsional stress whereby the'valve assembly is simple in construction and sucient in operation.

Another invention object is the provision of a diphragm valve whereinthe diaphragm is reciprocated axiallytby an axially xed rotating spindle which drives a washer axially and without rotary motion into engagement with the diaphragm.

A further inventive object is the provision of diaphragm valve wherein a diaphragm is driven. into sealing engagement with a valve seat without being subjected to torsional stressby a non-rotating member of substantially the `sai-ne cross-sectional area as the valve seat.

A still further object of this'invention is 'the provision of. a vscrew-operated diaphragm valvewherein va diaphragm 'is s'eated"'without'torsional or bending stresses by a non-rotatingemember of' cross-sectional area equiv- `alent tothe valve seat. l j l A still `iiurtherobject of this invention is the 'provision of a screw operated diaphragm valve ywherein valve closure is effected by a non-rotating axially moving member actuated by an axially xed rotating spindle and wherein the diaphragm is yguided along the Yaxis of the valve seat by the spindle.

-Further objects and novel details of the invention will be disclosed in the following description and appended claims taken in conjunction with the attached drawings in which: Y

Figure 1 is an elevation of the valve assembly.

Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view taken through the flow and valve spindle axis, with the valve in open position.

inlet '11 andan vaxially'aligned outlet 12; Intermediate theiinlet and outlet a centrally apertured valve seat 13 is provided surrounding a passageway`14 at right angles to the inlet-outlet axis. The dow through the seat 13 is controlled by .a diaphragm 15 which is mounted over the seat 13 between the housing 10v and a bonnet 16. The bonnet and housing are secured together by bolts 17 which are in'sertedthrough an apertured bonnet flange 18, the diaphragm periphery and threaded into an apertured shoulder 19 surrounding and projecting beyond the valve seat 13. The outer surface of the shoulder is linely (machined to co-act with the diaphragm periphery in sealing off the interior of the housing. Thus it is apparent ythat in addition to controlling flow through the valve seat, the diaphragm'also positively prevents leakage' into the bonnet therebyV eliminating the necessity of Va bonnet gland and preventing injurious contact with thev actuating mechanisms housed in the bonnet. 'l'he diaphragm 15 is vfurther equipped with a block 20 :embedded into the diaphragm at the inner end and projecting bevond the diaphragm at the outer end providing an abutment 21.' A central bore 22 is formed in the block to receive the threaded inner end 23 of operating spindle 24 -for purposes to be described. Y

Operating spindle 24 comprises a cylindrical shaft having an outer portion 25 of reduced diameter forming a shoulder 26 which projects slightly beyond the outer end ofy bonnet 16. `An axial' threaded bore 27 is formed in the spindle portion 25 for the reception of a set screw 28. A handwheel 29fisf1xedly secured about'the spindle between the set screWZS and the shoulder 26. f The spindle l24 fts snugly and rotatably within thev rreduced outer'necltA 30 of vthe bonnet with the inner-'end of the haiidwheel"29 sufficientlyl spaced tfrorn the outer end of neck 30 topermit nnimpeded rotation of the handwheelspindle .assembly relative to the bonnet. The spindle 24 opposing rectangular slots 3 3 which extend symmetrically 20 thereby causing the block and diaphragm to bend as when axial movement of washer 34 causes the washer to apply inward pressure on blocle20, the pressure so applied is distributed uniformly over the entire surface 21' Moreover, it is also stressed that the uniform application of sealing pressure on 'block 20 transfers pressure more directly to the sealing lip of seat 13. In previous construction pressure was applied directly through the spindle to a relatively small central area of block a beam between the periphery of the valve seat 13. Such bending introduces injurious unnecessary stresses in the block and diaphragm resulting in ultimate failure of these parts. In the instant case, the more direct `substantially axial transfer' 'of pressure from the' washer to the valve seat virtually eliminates *bending stresses and strains thereby increasing the eciency of thefsealing co-action and life of the valve.

A further -feature oft-he instant invention toben'oted is the `co-action between the 'bore '22 and spindle end"23. The spindle end is of such a length that it always pro jects within bore 22 with a fairlyclose clearance. This clearance however is s'uflicient to .prevent contact with the bore walls when the spindle is actuated. The clearance however is small enough to enable the spindle to function as a guide restricting the movement of the block along axial directions. Thus should a sudden surge of pressure in 'passageway 14 tend to deiiect diaphragm l laterally during 'a valve closing operati-on, the spindle end 23 will restrictsuch a tendency to an insignificant magnitude. Y This restrictive function of the spindle however occurs only 'for a split second; the spindle and block being normally out of'contact during valve closmg. Y

When the washer V34 has been movedtolthe open position :depicted in Figure 2, the diaphragm is opened by iiuid pressure with the washer acting as 4an upper limit to the opening movement ofthe diaphragm. When fully opened, the block .20 abts the washer, and also the inner end '23 'of the spindle. Thus in the open position the spindle reinforces the washer in limiting the vopening movement lof the diaphragm, thereby limiting the Wear and tear on the spindle threads especially in highpressure environments.

If desired the washer and block can be providedwith a connection whereby opening movement of the washer positively exerts an opening movement upon the block, exclusive of fluid pressure (not shown).

The valve is readily assembled by inserting Vthe 'spindle into the neck valve '30'via apertured ange 18 until collar 31 contactsthe internal surface 32 ofthe'bonnet (see Figure 4). The handwheel is then mounted about the outer end `25 of Vthe spindle adjacent` the spindle shoulder 26. 'Set Yscrew 28 is then securedfin threaded bore 27 thereby rotatably fixing the spindle-handwheel assembly to the bonnetV neck 30. The washer 34 is lthen threaded on the spindle end .23 with the wings 36 tte'd into slots 33. This completes the bonnet assembly. 'I'he diaphragm 15 is then placed in position on the casing shoulder 19 and the bonnet assembly is properly aligned with the shoulder 19 with the diaphragm sandwiched therebetween. The assembly is completed by fastening bolts 17 in the provided holes thereby securing the bonnet assembly to the housing 'with the diaphragm in seali-ng position therebetween. The alignment of spindle end 23 in lbore 22 also aids in centering the bonnet assembly relative to the `diaphragm when the complete assembly is made.

Operation Closure of the valve is obtainedby rotating handwheel 29, which also causes rotation ofspindle 24. Due to the threaded connection between spindle end 23 and washer 34, the washer is ymoved axially inward applying pressure uniformly to the surface 2-1 of block 20 resulting in the seating of diaphragm 15 on seat 13 sealing on passageway 14. During the closing movement no torsional stresses are transmitted ,to =the-block, the block is restricted to axial movement by spindle end 23, and due to more nearly axial alignment of the bearing surface 21 with valve seat 13, virtually no henching stresses are imposed on the diaphragm To open the valve, the wheel 29 is rotated in a reverse direction, thereby moving the washer 34 to an outer location shown in Figure 2. 'llhus sufficient clearance is provided between the block and washer to permit fluid pressure to move the diaphragm to an open position, with the was-her 34 and spindle end 23 functioning as limits to the open position of the diaphragm.

lt can now be appreciated that in addition to the advantages cited above, the axial iixednature of the spindle 24 eliminate additional parts required in conventional valve types involving axial movement of the spindle. Moreover the require-d axial length of the bonnet is obviously reduced, permitting a more compact, stundier construction. n

Havingthus ldescribed in detail the nature and attendant advantages of theinvention, ya grant of Letters Patent is solicited `for the incorporated novel features yin accordance with the following claim.

I claim: p

A diaphragm valve comprising a housing, a pipe connection at each end of said housing, an opening in one side wal-1 of said housing, a continuousimperforate ilexible diaphragm of a size co-extensive with the outer edge of the wall of the housing surroundingrsaid opening, a bonnet having a base co-extensive with the outer edge of said diaphragm, means for clamping said base and diaphragm against the Wall of said housing surrounding said opening, a metal wear piece having a marginal por tion embedded lin the outer face of said diaphragm, an annularvalve seat in said housing, said valve seat being spaced from the :diaphragm when the face of the diaphragm is `in the same plane as the face of the wall of the housing surrounding said opening, said annular valve seatbeing Vof a diameter slightly less than said wear piece, and 'means mounted insaid bonnet for moving said wear piece and said diaphragm toward said valve seat, said last named means comprising a bar vmounted insaid bonnet for movement toward and' from Said Wear piece, a `threaded opening in said :bar at a point overlying the center of said -wear piece kand a valve-operating spindle Ymounted in said bonnet with its end threaded in said opening. Y

References Cited in the 'le of this patent Y UNITED STATES PATENTS McPherson May 3, 1955 

